State Department Designates London Imam Anjem Choudary a Terrorist

The U.S. State Department has designated notorious London imam Anjem Choudary a terrorist under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. The British extremist has long been tied to convicted terrorists and extremist networks in the United Kingdom, including the Al-Muhajiroun group.

In September 2014, he was one of 9 men arrested by Scotland Yard as part of a major investigation into Islamist terrorism for pledging allegiance to ISIS and for acting as a key figure in ISIS’ recruitment drive. He was sentenced to prison in September 2016, but has stated that he will continue his recruitment activities from prison.

Shortly before that arrest, Choudary tweeted a number of controversial tweets, including one claiming that “it has already been foretold by Muhammad(saw) that Muslims & Christians will fight a big battle in As-Sham & that Muslims will prevail.”

Choudary is now one of at least 5 other individuals put on a list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), meaning the U.S. can impose sanctions “on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”

As a consequence of these designations, he will be prohibited from engaging in transactions or dealings with other SDGTs and all of his property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction is frozen.

The designation also includes El Shafee Elsheikh, Sami Bouras, Shane Dominic Crawford and Mark John Taylor. El Shafee Elsheikh is of particular note. He traveled to Syria in 2012, joined al-Qaida in Syria before later joining ISIS. In May 2016, Elsheikh was identified as a member of the ISIS execution cell known as “The Beatles,” which is a group known for their hostage beheadings, believed to number more than 27.

Elsheikh was said to have earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions, and crucifixions while serving as an ISIS jailer.